Who won the match-up battles between All Blacks contenders in Chiefs-Hurricanes thriller – Paul Lewis

All Blacks selectors love a hard-bitten, close-fought, local derby. The near-test-match intensity is ideal for observing the big-match abilities of those vying for a place in the national team.

That’s why Saturday’s Chiefs-Hurricanes clash was important – not just as a top-of-the-table contest but because it pitched so many All Blacks contenders against each other in testing circumstances. It produced the best game of the Super Rugby Pacific competition so far.

There was some cracking form displayed in other games, particularly by Anton Segner, Dominic Gardiner and Leicester Fainga’anuku. They can’t be left out of calculations but here’s our best effort at a head-to-head analysis of those contesting places in the All Blacks in this match, won by the Chiefs 22-17 in extra time. Chiefs names first:

Hooker: Samisoni Taukei’aho v Asafo Aumua

Winner: Aumua, by a whisker. Taukei’aho did nothing wrong and plenty right, making a game-high 17 carries. Aumua made an important turnover and two eye-catching runs, one to set up a try to Peter Lakai and the other to score himself. It’s a moot point whether Aumua has done enough in this match to change the pecking order – his lineout throwing can still be a concern – but he displayed his athleticism and crunching ball running.

Prop: Ollie Norris v Pasilio Tosi

Winner: Tosi. These two relatively new All Blacks are loosehead and tighthead respectively so are not contesting the same berth. However, they scrummed against each other here, with honours even there but Tosi shading matters in general play.

Lock: Josh Lord v Warner Dearns

Winner: Lord. Dearns is not eligible for the All Blacks but has had such a good tournament that he’s a useful measuring stick. The Chiefs man showed his ability in the loose, overshadowing Dearns in that regard, while Lord’s colleague Naitoa Ah Kuoi did the most effective lineout work, harassing the Canes.

Blindside flanker: Simon Parker v Devan Flanders

Winner: Parker, impressively. This was the big one as No 6 is the most open position this year, especially if, as expected, the returning Wallace Sititi is selected at No 8. The latter won the game with his try from Damian McKenzie’s partially charged-down dropped goal attempt but he isn’t included in this positional analysis, even though he can play any of 6, 7 and 8.

Flanders has been the big mover at blindside since the beginning of Super Rugby Pacific but was comprehensively outplayed by an all-action Parker. The big flanker made heavy hits, scored a try and was impressive in doing so much grunt work, with or without the ball, for 85 minutes – a good time to play his best match of the season so far.

However, matters are far from settled re No 6. Segner turned in another eye-catching performance for the Blues (two tries, two turnovers and lineout dominance). It was his third in a row, lodging him among the leading contenders. Selectors like consistency – it keeps them warm at night.

Meanwhile, though the under-strength Crusaders lost 31-26 to the Western Force after leading 19-0 after 21 minutes, Gardiner was their man of the match. Like Parker, he got through a ton of work (no forward made more carries and more metres) and his work on the fringes was impressive, particularly one round-the-corner pass to set up a (disallowed) try for wing Macca Springer. Samipeni Finau and Ethan Blackadder did not play this week.

No 8: Luke Jacobson v Peter Lakai

Winner: Jacobson, just. Fascinating as these two can play any of 6, 7 or 8. Lakai clearly has more of an All Blacks future and scored a good try but Jacobson, in his 100th Chiefs match, is the sort of warrior you’d always want in your team. Both were busy and effective on attack and defence. The decider was Lakai’s spilled ball that led to the Chiefs’ counter-attack and the Daniel Sinkinson try that pulled the Chiefs up to 17-17.

Halfback: Cortez Ratima v Cam Roigard

Winner: Draw. These two effectively cancelled each other out, with Roigard not dominating, though he certainly did nothing wrong and played a strong role in Lakai’s try. Noah Hotham played well off the bench for the Crusaders, begging the question why he did not start, while Finlay Christie had one of his best outings for the Blues.

First five: Damian McKenzie v Ruben Love

Winner: McKenzie, decisively. Many have been calling for the rapid promotion of Ruben Love this year and that may still occur. However, in this match-up, McKenzie was clearly ahead. He often took the ball to the line, challenging the Canes’ defence and making two breaks. His goalkicking and general play were superior. Beauden Barrett had a fair game, with his goalkicking sharply improved.

Centre: Quinn Tupaea v Billy Proctor

Winner: Tupaea, by a whisker. These are two of the three contenders for the 13 jersey (Fainga’anuku being the other). Proctor played well, his long left-hand pass beautifully setting up Josh Moorby for an early try. However, Tupaea didn’t put a foot wrong, displayed his usual physical vigour, and his quick-flick pass to Sititi sparked Sinkinson’s try. In Perth, Fainga’anuku had his most penetrative match so far for the Crusaders, running with power, beating defenders and showing more of the distribution skills that he will need to nab this jersey. He could yet be the one.

Wing: Leroy Carter v Kyren Taumoefolau

Winner: Carter, clearly, in this all-Chiefs comparison. This was a typically busy and involved match and his break and backhand offload to Sinkinson gave the substitute the try started by Tupaea and Sititi. Taumoefolau isn’t as busy but is good under the high ball, is capable of the unexpected, and there is no denying the elusiveness of his running – beating both Lakai and Moorby in one sally. He looks a considerable prospect even though not All Blacks-eligible until October.